Government / Politics

Voters Approve Of Transportation Ballot Measures

A review of transportation ballot measures from 2000-2005 found growing use of voter-approved financing. Over than span, 70 percent of transportation measures were successful at the ballot box generating at least $70 billion in new investment.

August 25, 2006 - Center For Transportation Excellence

Los Angeles Wrestles With Accelerating Gentrification

As Los Angeles' old neighborhoods are scrubbed clean and the city begins to embrace density, gentrification is threatening the way of life for residents in many communities.

August 24, 2006 - LA Weekly

Upstate New York Towns Slow Down Growth Of Wind Farms

Commercial wind farms are to many small towns in rural, upstate NY what the Cape Wind proposal is to Cape Cod -- highly controversial. Moratoriums play key role in developing land use regulations to quell citizen opposition.

August 24, 2006 - The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY

The Anglo-American Special Relationship On Urban Policy

Senior researchers at the Centre for Cities discuss whether the UK should look towards Europe or the US when making urban policy.

August 23, 2006 - BBC News

Lack Of Leadership In New Orleans Rebuilding

New Orleans' leaders have failed the city but it's not too late.

August 22, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Global Warming Legislation Could Have A Positive Economic Impact

While the California Chamber of Commerce has targeted the Global Warming Solutions Act as a "job killer", predicting higher gas and electricity prices, a new report from UC Berkeley concludes that the legislation could boost the state's economy.

August 22, 2006 - University of Califonia, Berkeley

Will Pay Cash For Babies: How Industrialized Nations Hope To Boost Birth Rates

Hoping to guard against future labor shortages and protect their national identity, many countries with low birth rates are trying to entice couples into having more children with a variety of financial incentives -- including cash payments.

August 22, 2006 - Wall Street Journal via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Empty Desert Develops To House 200,000

A 67-square mile piece of empty desert in Nevada will soon explode into one of the state's biggest cities, housing more than 200,000. Senator Harry Reid pulled various strings over the last four years to obtain approval for the development.

August 22, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Cities Use New Technology For Property Tax Assesments

Cities are using cutting edge software combined with aerial photos to survey and assess property quickly and accurately.

August 21, 2006 - The New York Times

China To Get Serious About Tackling Pollution

Rapid economic expansion has created rampant pollution in China, and officials are determined to clean it up in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

August 21, 2006 - Reuters via The New York Times

US Conference of Mayors Releases Homeland Security Report

Mayor's Conferences Releases Survey of 183 Cities on emergency preparedness and homeland security.

August 21, 2006 - U.S. Conference of Mayors

Sneaky Campaign To Privatize Nationally Owned Land

Activist and singer-songwriter Carole King urges Americans to oppose bills that give away public land for private development.

August 21, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Learning From Portland: Linking Land Use And Transportation

A film documenting Portland's success in moving people from cars to public transportation is airing on British television.

August 20, 2006 - BBC

Fresno Mayor And City Council Disagree On Global Warming Agreement

The City Council of Fresno, California, endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on July 18th to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the city's Mayor has stated he won't sign off on the proposal.

August 20, 2006 - The Fresno Bee

Drawing Lessons From Major Disasters

A new report contains lessons for planners and other public officials who are concerned about recent public disasters.

August 19, 2006 - Fels Institute of Government

Will Chicago's New Living Wage Law Hurt The City?

Recent announcements from big box retailers withdrawing or delaying plans to build stores in the city have given pause to supporters of controversial living wage ordinance, with some considering withdrawing their support.

August 18, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

The Politics Of Planning In Florida's Citrus Groves

Local residents of rural Palm Beach County learned how growth management laws and grass-roots opposition to a 10,000 unit major development can be trumped by lobbyists in the state capital.

August 18, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

The Surreal Tale Of Katrina's Planning Mishaps

Fortune magazine provides one of the most thorough accounts of the political shuffling that occurred in Hurricane Katrina's wake.

August 16, 2006 - Fortune

Eco-Subsidies Not Enough To Combat Voter Dissatisfaction

Poll shows that Australians disapprove of the Federal Government's response to increases in gas prices and interest rates.

August 15, 2006 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Legal Battle Set For Maine's Largest Development

The nation's largest landowner, Plum Creek Timber Co., is entering a legal battle with environmental groups over its proposal to create the largest development in Maine's history.

August 15, 2006 - Portland Press Herald

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.